Lizzo has claimed a partial legal victory after a judge dismissed allegations that she fat shamed former dancers, a central claim in a lawsuit that erupted in 2023 and quickly collided with the singer’s carefully built public image.
The ruling removes one of the most damaging accusations levelled against the pop star, whose career has been closely tied to messages of body confidence and self acceptance. In a video posted to Instagram and TikTok, Lizzo said the court had found no evidence that she dismissed dancers for gaining weight, insisting they were fired for secretly recording her and sharing the footage with former employees.
Those claims are now off the table. The rest of the case is not.
A Los Angeles judge has allowed the lawsuit to continue on allegations of sexual harassment, brought by three former dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez. They allege that between 2021 and 2023 they were pressured into attending sex shows and interacting with nude performers while on tour.
Court documents claim that during a visit to a nightclub in Amsterdam, Lizzo pressured Davis to touch the breasts of a dancer. Davis initially refused but later complied, fearing the impact on her future with the team. Other allegations include dancers being encouraged to eat fruit from the naked bodies of performers.
Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has denied all wrongdoing. Her legal team previously described the lawsuit as a fabricated narrative and unsuccessfully argued that the outings were part of her creative process and therefore protected under free speech. Lawyers for the dancers rejected that argument, calling it an attempt to stretch artistic freedom beyond credibility.
Reacting to the dismissal of the fat shaming claims, Lizzo said the accusation had haunted her for two years and described the experience as devastating. She reiterated that she has consistently supported people with larger bodies and used her platform to amplify them.
The singer said she would continue to fight the remaining claims and made clear she has no intention of settling. The case now moves forward, with a trial that threatens to be long, uncomfortable and impossible to dance around.
